Apparatus for sterilizing the interiors of empty vessels



TERILIZING THE INTERIORS 0F EMPTY vEssELs July 4, 1944.

c. B. HARLEY APPARATUS FOR S Filednem 22, 1943 3 sheetssheet 1 Inventor.

Cul-'Fono Bmvswlcx HARLEY.

By@ 12m A Home.

July 4, 1944.

APARATUS FOR STERILIZING THE INTERIORS OF EMPTY VESSELS Filed Dec. 22, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor.

CLIFFORD BRUNSWICK HARLEX By @fad/ez.

A florney.

c. B. HARLEY 2,352,787

Filed Dec. 22, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 PPARATUS FOR STERILIZING THE INTERIORS OF EMPTY VESSEIVJS Julvy 4, 1944.

In venian CL/FFORD BRurvswlcKHARLEx By j? A Homey.

Patented July 4, 1944 APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING'TI-IE IN- TERIORS OF EMPTY VESSELS Clifford Brunswick Harley, Herne Hill, London,

England, assignor of one-half to Robert Powley & Sons Limited, Sunderland, England Application December 22, 1943, Serial No.515,296 In Great Britain March 25, 1942 16 Claims. (Cl. Z50-5,2)

This invention comprises improvements in the construction of burner heads hereinafter termed headers for machines for sterilizing the interiors of empty bottles or other vessels or containers by means of tubes emitting ultra-violet rays or tubes emitting bactericidal rays normally housed in the headers and in the method `of bringing said tubes from said headers into said bottles or containers to effect the sterilization and then returning same into the headers. The invention also comprises a machine forputting the method into practice.

The sterilizing tubes used are preferably quartz tubes which emit ultra violet rays when electrically energized although `other irradiating elements capable of emitting vbactericidal rays may be used.

Provision is made for treatment, that is to say, the sterilization of vessels of various sizes such as bottles, jars, tins, cartons and like containers.

A principal feature 4or' the invention is that the sterilizing tubes normally housed within the headers are brought into 'the vessels and returned into the headers by suction instead of mechanically as hitherto. violet tubes are effectively safeguarded 4from damages. These tubes are of a delicate nature and costly and prevention of damage thereto is effected by automatic means operating to prevent a tube from entering. a vessel should said vessel be faulty or not truly centered with respect to its header since in the Working ofthe method the bottles or other vessels have to be partially eX- hausted of air and shouldv this notbe eliected in a particular vessel due to leakage, suction is not produced on the mechanism of the header for effecting the insertion of the tube into this vessel. in fact the tube will not move from `its normal position within the header.

The construction'of the improved header is such that although the ray emitting tubes' Vare readily accessible for cleaning, they cannot be touched by hand when they are in operation, which contact might cause the tubes to become soiled and their irradiation eniciency impaired. Further if a tube is prevented from entering a vessel which is defective to the extent that the Vessel cannot be partiallyv exhausted of `air such defective vessel can be easily discerned and removed from the machine.

The sterilizing tubes are attached to pistons arranged to slide up and down within the headers and the sliding movement of each piston with its tube is operated by the vsuction which is applied in co-operation'with the vessels to be sterilized in By such method the ultra- .A

such a manner that each vessel-ispartly-exhausted of air before the sterilizing tube can enter there- ,in as previously mentioned. This partial exhaustion of air from the lvessels also -hasthe advantage of reducing the resistance to the ultra-violet lrays from the tubes passing to the inner walls of the vessels and also the quantity of air in the vessel which might be ozonised is reduced. In order to facilitate the removal of a treated vessel from the header it is necessary to return the treated vessel to atmospheric pressure. Preferably this may be done by admitting sterile or cleaned air or by 'the admission of a suitable g-as which may in itself be lethal to certain organisms. Furthermore, should a gas be used which is heavier than air, it will ll `and remain in the sterilized vessel and prevent the entry of -contaminated air from the atmosphere until such time as the vessel maybe filled with Amaterial or sealed. In some cases the venting gas may be of such a nature as to suitably prepare a vessel to receive a liquid. Likewise the partially exhausted vessel may be returned to atmospheric pressure by admitting a suitable gas to break down any ozone that might be present in the Vessel after it has been sterilized.

In the improved header the electric leads to ultra-violet ray emitting tubes or other irradiating Aburners which may require high potential for their 'operation are in the form of spiral-springs disposed wit-hin telescopic tubes of insulating ma'- terial which are in turn mounted within cylindri'cal metal parts of the headers which parts when suitably connected to` earth 'safeguard-operators from electric shocks.

This use of spiral springs to carry the current to the ray emitting tubes 'eliminates any fluctuation of potential with the consequence that the intensity'of the rays does not vary and flickering which might impair the full action of the sterilizing rays is avoided. However, for effecting this purpose other means of carrying the currents to the tubes may be employed.

Suitable means of putting thisinvention into practice is to construct the individual headers of one or more metal cylinders in which is fitted a piston carrying an ultra-violet ray emitting tube or other irradiator which in operation enters into the respective vessel to be sterilized. The pistons and cylinders form a self-contained header several of which may be mounted on a machine arranged to be rotated by power and to be supplied with the vessels to be treated by manual or mechanical means and for the treated vessels to be'removed from the machine by manual or mechanical means. The said rotary machine may be arranged to work in conjunction with a suitable form of conveyor for the vessels.

In the improved machine the vessels to be treated are stood on platforms or supports disposed vertically below each header, these platforms or supports being lifted by a ramp and retained in the lifted position for a suitable portion of each revolution of the machine, during which period the irradiating tube would reside within the vessel and the process of sterilizing 'carried out. The distance between the platforms on which the Vessels stand and the lower portion of the header is such that the upward movement of the platform 4causes the neck or opening of the vessel to be pressed tightly against a soft resilient pad or washer suitably housed within a conical member mounted on the lower end of an inner cylinder arranged to be slidably mounted within a xed outer cylinder the upward movementl of the vessel causing this inner cylinder to be lifted by the vessel for part of the upward travel of the platform so as to control the suction and venting ports of the header in order to enter and withdraw the irradiating tube into and from the vessel.

Alternatively, l one or 'more of the improved headers may be arranged to be stationary and in line and the inner'sleeves of the headers tobe lifted by the vessels'to be sterilized which may be raised by manual o'r mechanic-al means, or such an arrangement of stationary headers may be mounted above a conveyor to transport' the vessels, which conveyor may have a continuous or an interrupted action, and the vessels raised by manual or mechanical'means in timed relation to the movement of the conveyor.

The accompanying drawings' illustrate an 'eX- ample of construction of a burner head and an example of construction of a rotarymachine according to the invention in'which Figure 1 is a sectional elevation'of a header having an inner cylindrical slidablesleeve shown in the lower position and an irradiating tube attached to a piston in the position when the tube is withdrawn from a' vessel which in 'the drawings is a bottle. f

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the header showing the inner cylindrical sleeve lifted by the upward movement of the bottle when the irradiating tube is withdrawn from the header and has entered the bottleto the sterilizing position.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the piston and'shows the method of mounting the irradiating tube and terminal ends of electrical connectors for energizing the tube.

Figure 4 is a plan View of the piston showing the connecting Vends vof the irradiating tube and the terminal ends of the vvelectrical connections.

Figure 5' is an elevation with parts in section of the general arrangement of a rotary machine with two headers and shows the position of platforms carrying respectivebottles in thev two positions of the tube as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

The burner header illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 comprises an outer cylinder I having an annular mounting flange or collar 2 which may be fixed to be integral with the cylinder or it may be concentrically mounted around the cylinder so `that its position can be varied to adjust the distance of the conical member 3 with relation to the platforms 22 (Fig. 5) on Which'the bottles to be sterilized are placed. The position of the flange 2on the outer cylinder I is adjustable to provide for vessels of different heights required to be treated on the machine. This flange 2V is provided with holes suitably disposed so that the flange together with the outer cylinder I may be rigidly attached to the bearer plate of a rotary machine as shown in Figure 5 or to other suitable framework.

Slidably mounted within the outer cylinder I is an inner cylinder 4 having a threaded portion at the lower end. This inner cylinder 4 is of such a size as to be a free, sliding iit in the outer cylinder I, so that ports or holes through the outer cylinder I are either closed by the inner cylinder 4 or coincide with further ports or holes provided through the inner cylinder 4. Accurate location and coincidence of the ports or holes in the outer and inner cylinders is ensured by providing a vertical slot 5 in the inner cylinder 4 into which projects the plain round end of a screwedl pin 6 which is firmly screwed into the outer cylinder I. Suitable pipes are fitted to the ports or holes through the outer cylinder I and are connected to an air exhausting pump.

The venting port 'I may be fitted with a pipe leading to an air filter or be left as a plain hole. The port or hole 8 through the outer cylinder I at the lower end may be fitted with a pipe and connected to a suitable air filter, or it may be connected to a supply of a particular gas which might be considered advisable to admit into a vessel.

Mounted on the threaded end of the inner cylinder 4 is an internally cone shaped member 3 which carries a soft resilient sealing Washer 9 of rubber for instance having a hole 9a through the centre through which the irradiating tube I I is free to pass. This conical member 3 and the resilient washer 9 can be changed to suit bottles or other vessels of various types and sizes. The piston Ill in which the irradiating tube II is mounted together'with electrical terminal ends I2 is arranged to 'slide vertically within the lnner cylinder 4. It is preferable that the piston I0 should be made of a material which does not conduct electricity and that the piston should be provided with or fixed within a metal sleeve Illa (Fig. 3) around its cylindrical surface so that it may freely slide within and be guided by the inner wall of the inner cylinder 4.

A convenient method of mounting the irradiating tube I I is to provide a suitable recess in the part of the piston IU made of insulating material and to secure the irradiating tube with a cementing medium I3 such as plaster of vParis or other like material. 'I'he electrical terminal connections I2 may be threaded and screwed into the upper horizontal face'ofthe part of the piston I0 made of insulating material and the terminals connected to those of Ythe irradiating tube Vby short leads.

Connections to the outside source of electric power are made through the medium of spiral springs I4 to the insulated terminals I5 which pass through the sealing cover I6. 'I'his sealing cover I6 isiitted with a Washer I1 and means of attachment to the outer cylinder I so that the cylinder may be effectively sealed and rendered air-tight. 1

The insulated terminals I5 which pass through the cover plate I6 and the corresponding terminal members I2 attached to the piston I0 are provided with threaded portions'on'to which are screwed tubes of non-conducting material. These tubes I8 and I9 are arranged to telescope one within the other so that the spiral spring connections I4 carrying the electric current are @t all times completely covered. Not only do described above mayA be mounted' on a bearer plate 2| mounted' in a machine which is' arranged to be rotated by' mechanical means the. headers y being operated in timed relation andrlin co-operation withA platforms 22 on which the veseslsto be sterilized are placed". Y

As shown in Fig. 5 preferably the'platforms' 22 are so arranged that a roller 23' attached to each travels over the `surface of 'ai ramp 24 provided in the body of the rotary machine so that the platform 22 is lifted together with the vessel reposing thereon, the lift to the vessel being transmitted through a spiral'spring4 25: or other resilient means.

TheV supply of electricityto the irradiating tubes II housed within'the headers is. carried'by connecting the external terminals I5 of theheaders to a rotating collector or brushl gear 2li` which is positioned above and on the vertical centre line of the machine, orthe terminals I5: on the headers may be connected to transformers 2'.' orrother apparatus which in turn are connected to suitable collecting gear.

Pipes 28 and: 29v for exhausting air-from the headers' and from the vessels to be treated are connected to a distributing or junction box 39a., having a rotating gland disposed along the vertical centre line ofthe rotating machine,l andthe connection is made to a suitableV air pump. Likewise, pipes from` the venting ports 1, 8` of the headers are connected to a similar junction box 32 tted with a further rotatinggland', and connection maybe made to chambers containing sterile or clean. air or to a supply of' any gas which it may be desired to admit into the .vessels as` they are returned to atmospheric pressure.

With a machine of the type described the headers would be operated and the interiorsf of the Vessels subjected to irradiation' in the following manner:

The vessels to be treated are placed on the platform 22 below the headers when the-platforms are in the low position and when: there is adei quateclearance betweenthe top of the vessel and the bottom of the internally cone shapedv member 3 to permit a vessel to be placed in position. As the platform 22-with the` vessel reposing thereon rises due to the lift of the ramp 24 and rotation of the machine, the neck or top of thev vessel is pressedfinto rm contactand forms an air-tightl joint with the vsoft resilient sealing washer 9, the further upwards `movement ofthe vessels lifts the innerr cylinder 4' of the headers untilfthe annular face of the top of the Ycone shaped member 3 comes into contact with thev annular face of the bottom of the outer cylinder I'. Sometimes it is desirable to'` interpose` a resilient washer 33 between these two annular faces to ensure an airtight joint `being made as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Further .upwardV thrust from the ramp is absorbed in the compression of the spiral spring 25 or the resilientmeans housed within` the platform member 22 Aand through which all the upward thrust: isV imparted. Theli'fting of' the inner cylinder 4`y to the limit of its travel causes suction port 28 aboveI thev piston to beclose'd and venting port 3l: in the inner cylinder 4` to: coincide with the ventingport I in the outer cylinder thereby breaking down the partial exhaustion of air'from the area above the piston III. At the same time the Aport 30 at the lower end ofthe inner'cylinder 4 coincides with suction port 29 at the lower' end of-,the outer cylinder, and as port B also at the lower end ofthe outer cylinder I is closed by the wall' of' the inner cylinder-Lair is drawn from the area of the burner head below the piston IIJ and also from the vessel Yreposingl ontheplatformancl which is making'an airtight joint with the resilient washer 9. This being the case, the piston I0 is drawndownwards and the irradiating tube II- caused to enter into the vessel and. to subject the vessel to irradiation by ultra-violet rays of suitable characteristics to be lethal to bacteria in` theV time a-lordedl and determined by the speed of-rotation of the machine andv by the design ofr the ramp member'of the machine.

As the piston I0 approaches the downwards limit of its-travel it closes. the suction port 29 and so obstructsvthe passage of air to the vacuum pump. l f

When the machine has rotated sufliciently to allowl the platform member 22 tofall from the elevated position andY after the spring 25 inf the platform-member has been allowed to recover its permitted maximum length, the. inner cylinder 4 together withthe vessel, piston I0 and irradiating tube ,II descend together until such time as the suction port` 28` in the outer cylinder IY is uncovered and the ventport 3lin theuinner cylinder 4.no longer coincides withport 'l inthe outer cylinder I.; when the area inthe `heads above the pistonk I0 isA subjected to suction which causes the piston with the irradiating tube II .to be drawn upwards so that the .downwardly -extending .portion of the tube iswithdrawn from` the Vessel.

Duringthe downward l,travel-of the inner inder 4 the kport 301m the. inner .cylinder ,4. moves away from the. suction port 29 in the outer cylinder I and has 'coincided with Ythe venting .port 8' in the outer cylinder' If .through which air'V or gasl is free tobe drawn into the VVessel and' the| area in the cylinder belowthe piston; this k,ventinfg also facilitates the upward movement' ofthe pisv ton and the attached irradiatingA tube' froinrthe vessel into the head.y ,The treated' vessel being; at atmospheric pressure is thenfree to travelaway from the seali'ngwashertv and' tolbe removed Vfrom' the platform 22 Vso that a 'further vessel can -be placed" in 'position' on'they platform,`

' 'In' anotherformf of putting the invention into practice the inne'rcylinder 4 rmay bedispensed with and the piston II) arranged'to slide Vertical'- ly in 'the outer-cylinder I g the movement of the piston` IEl being controlled by connecting the suction and venting ports128, 29 and' 'I and 8 to one lor more cocks mountedon' the 'rotating yparl; of a machine, the cocksv being arranged to be operated by fixed strikerssofdisposed as to' move the' cock or cocks into theV positions requiredfto cause eachv piston to rise and` fall' as the machine rotates. f Spiral springs. I'4' which connects to vterminals I5 are of such a tensionthat'fthe piston is retained in the up position whenf the machine is at rest and 'suction' isfno longer applied to theA area in theY cylinder I above thdpi'ston.

What I.- claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An apparatus for sterilizing the interiors of empty vessels comprising irradiating elements, pistons carrying'said elements, cylinders housing said'pistons in which they can slide, means for effecting suctionv alternately on the respective faces of the said pistons for the purpose of moving `the irradiating element into and out of opera'tive' position, vand means for energizing said irradiating elements. v

2. Apparatus for s terilizing the interiors of empty vessels comprising a vertical tubular header,l a cylinder slidable therein, a piston slidable within said cylinderja downwardly extending irradiating element attached to the under face of said piston, means for energizing said element, means for applying suction on the upper and the lower face of said piston alternately for the purpose of moving the irradiating element into and out of operative position, and means for controlling the suction action.

3. Apparatus for sterilizing the interiors of empty vessels comprising a vertical 'tubular header, a cylinder slidable therein, a piston slidable within said cylinder, a downwardly extending'irradiatingl element' attached to the under face of said piston, extensible electric conductors supplying current to said irradiating element, means for preventing vthe piston from rotation on its axis,l means for applying suction on the upper and the lower face of said piston altern'ately for the purpose of moving the irradiating element into and out of operative positionrand means for controlling the suction action.

4. Apparatus for sterilizing the interiors of empty vessels comprising a vertical tubular header, a cylinder slidable therein, a pistonslidable within said cylinder, a downwardly extending'irradiating element 'attached to the under face of said piston, extensible electric conductors supplyingcurrent tov said irradiatingv element, meansfo'r preventing the piston from rotation on its axis, means for applying suction on theupper and the lower face of said piston` alternately for the purpose of moving the irradiating element into and'out of operative position; means for imparting up land downverticalmovements to the vessels being sterilized and thereby like vertical `Innovements tosaid cylinder and suction and venting `portsvappertaining tosaid header and to said cylinder controlled bythe-vertical movements of said cylinder. ,I v Y 5.vr machine for sterilizing the interiors of emptyyessels comprising ar series of -vertical headers, cylinders having suction and evacuation ports slidable in Ysaid headers, pistonsslidable in said cylinders, downwardly extending irradiating elements attached to the undersides of said pistons, pipes carried by said headers for exhausting air from said cylinders and from vthe vessels to be sterilized for the purpose of moving the irradiating elements into and out of operativel position;-resilient sealing washers on the bottoms .of said-cylinder, means for imparting upward Vand downward-vertical movements tothe `vessels to impartsliding movements of ,the cylinders to effect connections between the suction and evacuation ports of the respective cylinders and the pipes ofthe respective headers, extensible electric conductors supplying current to said irradiating tubes, means for preventing axial rotation of said pistonsand means for ensuring air tight contact of the rims of mouths ofv the vessels to be/*sterilized with said resilientwashersfduring the upward movements of said vessels. i 6. A rotary machine for sterilizing the interiors of empty vessels comprising a rotary bearer plate, Y

a series of vertical headers carried by said plate, suction operated sliding parts within said headers including pistons, a downwardly extending irradiating elementconnected to each of-said pistons', said suction being applied to the pistons lforthe purpose of moving the irradiating elementsl into and out of operative p0sition,.a seriesy of resilient platforms for carrying the vessels to be treated, a ramp giving upward and downward movements to the platforms carrying the vessels to actuate the sliding parts ofthe headers by means of said vessels, and resilient washers on the bottoms-of said cylinders providing air tight contact between the mouths of the vessels and said washers during the rising movements of said vessels during the 'working of the 'machine all substantially as described. w

7. A method of sterilizing the Vinteriors :of empty vessels by means of a reciprocatory element emitting bactericidal rays and carried by a piston reciprocable in a cylinder; comprising the stepsof bringing the vessel when'aligned with the cylinder into airtight contact withA the open end of the cylinder; partially exhausting the aix' n by suction from said vessel and simultaneously breaking the partial vacuum Vin the inner end of the cylinder, to cause the element :toI enter the vessel; then after the sterilization period vbreaking the suction-in the vessel and simultaneously exhausting the air by suction from the'inner end of the cylinder to cause withdrawal of the element from the vessel, the element being, thus caused to enter into and withdraw from the vessel by suction.

8. In a method as set forth'in claim 7,"the step of admitting sterile gas which is'lethal to bacteria into :the vessel, Vas the suction therein is broken.

9. In a method as set forth in-claim 7, the step of admitting sterile gas which is lethal to bacteria Y and which willprepare thevessel'to receivel a liquid into the vessel as the'suction therein is broken. Y

l0. In a method as'set forth in claim 7,'the step of admitting sterile gas which will break down any ozone which might be present inthe vessel after sterilization, into the vessel as the suction therein is broken. f

11. In a method as set forth in claini7, tlie step; of.' admitting sterile Agas which isflethal to bacteria,l and which will prepare theA vessel to receive a liquid, and which will break down any ozone which might be present in the vesselafter sterilization, into the vessel as the suction therein is broken. i y

12. A method of sterili'zing'the interiors 'of empty vessels by means of la"recipro"c':atoryTelement emitting bactericidal rays and'c'arried'fby a piston reciprocable in av cylinder;co'mprisin'g the steps of bringing the vessels 'insucc'ession into alignment with theV saidcylinder; bringing the vessel which is aligned into airtight ,contact with the open end of the cylinder: partially exhausting the air by suction from said'v'essel and simultaneously breaking the partial vacuum in the inner end ofthe cylinder, Vto causethe ele--V mentto enter the vessel; then after the sterilization period breaking the suction in the vessel and simultaneously exhausting the airfby'suction from the inner endY of the cylinderto 'cau-se withdrawal of the element lfrom the vesselfthe element being thus caused-to enter intoy and' Withdraw from the Vessel by suction, thereby insuring that the vessel is free from defects and preventing breakage of the element due to improper alignment of the Vessel with the element.

13. In a method as set forth in claim 12, the step of admitting sterile gas which is lethal to bacteria into the vessel, as the suction therein is broken.

14. In a method as set forth in claim 12, the step of admitting sterile gas which is lethal to bacteria and which will prepare the vessel to receive a liquid, into the vessel as the suction therein is broken.

- bacteria, and which will prepare the vessel to receive a liquid, and which Will break down any ozone which might be present in the vessel after sterilization, into the vessel as the suction therein is broken.

CLIFFORD BRUNSWICK HARLEY. 

